Apparatus for making paper.



W. H. DECKER. APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER. ArrLmA non FILED JULY 9. 190a,

Patented NOV. 30, 1909.

3 SHEBTSSKEET 1.

W. H. DECKER. APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1908. 941,561

Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

imooco: H u l'o:

. I om p w W. H. DECKER.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER.

Patented Nov. 30, 1909. B SHEETS-BEBE! 3.

a, M 0. W44 l APPLICATION FILED JULYQ, 1908.

WILLIAM H. DECKER, or SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, assrsguon TO THE s'oLvA rfaooEss COMPANY, or SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A oonrona'rron or NEW YO K,

APPARATUS FOR Maxine PAPER.

Patented Nov. 30, 1909.

Application filed July 9, 1908. Serial Ii'o. 442,35.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. DECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Syracuse, county-0f Onondaga, and State of New York, have inventeda aewand Improved Apparatus for Making Paper, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to that class of apparatus in the use of which the pulp of which the paper is formed isin the' first instance lifted from the tankin which it is contained upon the surface of a cylinder, or moldroll. e.

In making paper by such apparatus as heretofore practiced, the weak, .Wet sheet of pulp'lifted from the mass thereof upon the surface of the cylinder is removed therefrom by means of a couch roll, and transferred to a conveyer of fe1t, upon which it 'iscarried to and between press rolls, and otherwise treated to remove the, free water therefrom and compact the pulp and convert it into paper before it is Sub ected to the final steps of drying and calendaring, where calendering is required. f

I have discovered that if the film of pulp formed upon the surface-of the cylinder by,

its rotation'be subjected to a high pressure before being lifted from the mass of pulp in the tank, while approaching the point at which it leaves the mass, andagain to a high pressure after being lifted from the mass of pulp, and while still uponthe surfaceof the cylinder, it can be so compacted and dried as' to be converted into paper while still on the cylinder, and can be taken directly from the cylinder to the drying and calendering rolls. To the end, then, of shortening the time required for the production of paper, and of simplifying and reducing the cost ofthe apparatus employed, by dispensing with so muchthereof as has heretofore interposed between the forming cylinder and the drying rolls, for converting the pulp into paper, my invention, broadly stated, consists in combining with the cylinder upon which the film of pulp'is lifted from the tank means for applying to the film of pulp formed upon the surface of the .cylinder, as it approaches the point where it leaves the mass, a high pressure, and also means for applying a'high pressure to the film after it has been lifted from the mass, and while it is still upon the surface of the cylinder. By this'means I am able to so compact the sheet or film of pulp, and extract the free water therefrom, that it is converted into pa r while still on "the surface of the cylin er, and can be at once dried and calendered Without intermediate treatment.

The means which I employ for applying pressure to the film of pulp are two suction boxes, or series of suction boxes, located, on the interior of the cylinder, with their open faces aga nst the inner surfacethereof, the

one below the. surface of the mass of pulp drawn from the suction boxes, so that the overlying film is subjected to pressure, and the water extracted from the film is drawn off and discharged. By the applied. pressure, the film is rendered more compact, and

somewhat thickened if desired, before being drawn out of the mass of pulp, and after being lifted from the pulp is still further consolidated and deprived of its free water,

thereby being converted into paper.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, of 'which- Figure 1 shows a transverse vertical section; Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 3 a plan View of the apparatus; and Figs. 4' and 5 show elevations of the suction boxes.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the usual pulp containing tank, within which is a cylinder, B, of any usual or desired shape,

having a perforatedmetal shell covered with wire netting, and arranged to" rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow.

C, C, D, D, indicate'suctlon boxes located Within the cylinder, B, and impinging closely against the inner surface thereof. These suctionboxes are mounted upon a shaft, E, which may be rotated by means of arm, F, and screw, G, to adjust the position of the suction boxes in relation to the circumfer: ence of the cylinder, B, and the degree of their impin ement against the inner surface of ,the cylinder may be adjusted by means of set screws, a, a.

Within each suction box is a bafiie plate, 6,

the effect of which is to cause the suction to,

connected by pipes, 0, o, with an air pipe, C,

leading to an air exhaust device (not shown in the drawings), of an usual or suitable constructidn, capable o inducing a high pressure. 5

The amount of pressure required will vary somewhat with the thickness of paper desired, and the eflicient amount-10f opening of the suction boxes. Thegreater the opening, the less the pressure required, and the greater the thickness-of paper desired, the greater is the pressure required, and Vice versa. The pressure must,'however, be relatively high. I have found in practice that a pressure of about seven inches mercury column is sufficient, and the air exhaust apparatusshould be capable of producing a minlmum pressure of this amount. The exact amount of pressure to. be applied under any given conditions will be readily determined by experi ment, by those skilled in the art, keeping in mind that it isdesirable that the film shall be compacted as much as possible without being too greatly thickened.

The location of the suction boxes, C, C, in the upgoing quadrant of the cylinder, B, is

determined by the fact that if the strong suction required to sufliciently compact the film should be applied thereto when it is still very porous, as it is when it begins to be formed, the pulp would 'fl-tcnd to be drawn to the cylinder in 1nasscs';:and in any event the film would be thickened'to an impracticable extent.

The suction boxes D, D, are located above the level of the pulp in the tank, A, and are connected by p'1pes, d,-d, with a pipe, D, leading to an air exhaust apparatus (not shown in the drawings which must be capable of inducing'a su ciently high pressure to complete the consolidation of the film, and remove the free water therefrom as it passes over the suction boxes. In practice I have found a pressure of from twelve to fourteen inches, mercury column, sufiicient for this purpose.

If desired, a dandy-roll, H, supported by a pivoted arm, I, having a surface like that of the cylinder, B, may be allowed ton-est upon the paper, whereby the two sides of the paper wil be surfaced alike. The operation of the device is as follows:- The tank, A, being filled with pulp to the desired depth, as to the line, b,b, the cylinder, B, is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow. When the film of pulp formed upon the surface of the cylinder by' its rotation reaches the suction boxes, C, C, the air exhaust devices are set in operation, and withdraw the air from the suction boxes, and also draw off and discharge the water extracted from the pulp. Under the high pressure induced, the film of 111p is compacted and somewhat thickene as it asses over the suction boxes, C, C. As the 21111 of pulp is lifted from the mass and carried over the suction boxes, D, D, the free water is extracted therefrom, leaving only,

the water of absorption, and the conversion of the film of pulp into paper is completed.

The end of the moist sheet'of paper ma then be lifted from the cylinder by han and brought over a carrying roll, I, whence it may be wound upon a roll in the moist state or conveyed to drying and calendering rolls, or otherwise treated as desired.

By means of my invention I do away entirely with all that part of the apparatus heretofore interposed between the forming cylinder and the drying rolls, thereby greatly reducing the cost of the apparatus, and I also largely reduce the'time of production and the cost of handling, and produce a fabric having the same texture and appearance on both sides, advantages which will be readily appreciated by those skilled in-the-art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is:

1. In a paper making apparatus, the combination with a pulp containing tank, of a rotary cylinder provided with a perforated surface, and supported in such position that a portion of the perforated surface is below the level of the pul in said tank, a suction box located within the cylinder, :1 support for said suction box located substantially axially with respect to the cylinder, supporting means for the cylinder independent of the support for the suction box, supporting devices connected with said suction box and rotatably engaging said support, means for securing said support ng devices ad ustably to said su port, and a suction p1pe connected to sai suction box independent of its support.

.2. In a paper making apparatus, the combination with a pulp containing tank, of av rotary cylinder provided with a perforated surface, and supported in such position that a portion of the perforated surface is below the level of the pulp in said tank, a suction box located within the cylinder, asupport for said suction box located substan- I tially axially with respect to the cylinder,

supporting means for the cylinder independent of the support-for the suction box, supporting devices connected with said suction box and rotatably engaging said support, means for securing sa1d supporting devices adjustably to said support and means for ad ust1ng said suction box support laterally I, to adjust the suction box toward and from surface, supporting devices for said cylinder -low the pulp level.

holding it partly above and partly below the normal pulp level in said tank, and con-- structed to permit the rotation of said cylinder, suction boxes within the c linder, certain ofsaid boxes being locate above and certain; of said boxes being located below the normal pulp level,-supports for said suction boxes arranged substantially axiall with respect to the cylinder but indepen ent of the supporting devices therefor, connections from said suction boxes, rotatably engaging said support, and adjusting devices for securin said boxes in different positions in the cylinder with respect to the pulp level, a suction pipe connected to the boxes above the pulp level, and a separate suction pipe connected with the boxes be- 4. In a paper making apparatus, the com bination with a pulp containing tank, of a rotary cylinder provided with a perforated surface, supporting devices for said cylinder holding it partly above and partly be low the normal pulp level in said tank, and constructed to permit the rotation of said cylinder, suction boxes within the cylinder,

certain of said boxes being located above and certain of said boxes-being located below the normal pulp level, supports for said suction boxes arranged substantially axiall with respect to the cylinder but independ ent of the supporting devices therefor, connections from said suction boxes rotatably engaging said support, and adjusting devices for securing said boxes in different pd sitions in the cylinder with respect to the pulp level, a suction pipe connected to the boxes above the pulp level, and' a separate suction pipe connected with the boxes below the pulp level and means for adjusting said suction box support laterally td adjust the suction boxes toward and from the inner surface of the cylinder,

5. *In a paper making machine, the combination with a pulp containing tank, of a rotary cylinder provided with a perforated surface, supported above said tank in such position that a portion of its surface extends below the pulp level of said tank, a shaft extending longitudinally through said cylinder and supported independently thereof, suction boxes secured to said shaft, and engaging the inner face of said cylinder, and means forinoving said shaft toward and from the inner surface of the cylinder.

.. 6. In a paper making machine, the comgb i wlth a pulp containing tank, of a rotary perforated cylinder supported above said-tank and having a portion-extending into said tank below the pulp level therein, a shaft extending lon itudinally through said cylinder, horizontally movable supports for said shaft, and adjusting devices formoving said supports horizontally, and suc tion boxes supported by said shaft adjacent to the inner'face of the cylinder.

7. In a paper making machine, the-combination with a pulp containing tank, of a rotary perforated cylinder supported above said tank, and having a portion extending into the tank below the pulp level therein, a shaft extending longitudinally through said cylinder, a suction box supported from said shaft and having its open portion adjacent to the inner face of said cylinder, an arm secured to said shaft and an adjusting device secured to said arm.

' 8. In a paper making machine, the combination with a (pulp containing tank, of a rotary perforate cylinder supported abeve said tank and having a portion extending into said tank below the pulp level therein,

a shaft extending longitudinally through said c linder, horizontally movable supports or said shaft, and adjusting devices for. moving said supports horizontally, and suction boxes supported by said shaft adjacentto the innerv face of the cylinder, an arm secured to said shaft, and an adjusting screw engaging said arm.

9. In a paper making machine, the combination with a pulp containing tank, of a rotary perforated cylinder having a ortiom extending into the tank below the'pu p level therein, a suction box stationarily supported adjacent to the inner face of said cylinder, asuction pipe connected with said suction box', and a baflie plate interposed between the suction pipe and the inner face of the cyllnder to equalize the suction.

10. In a paper making machine, the combination with a pulp containing tank, of a rotary perforated cylinder having a portion extending into said tank below the pulp level therein and a portion above said pulp level, of suction boxes stationarily supported within and extending longitudinally of said cylinder, certain of said boxes having open portions adjacent to the wall of the 116 cylinder below the pulp level, and certain of said boxes being located above the pulp level, air exhaust pipes connected with the said boxes, and a dandy roll having an outer surface corresponding in texture with the 120 outer surface of the cylinder, whereby both sides of the paper will be alike in finish.

, In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed iny name, this 30th day of J une, A, D., 1908.

WILLIAM H. DECKER.

Witnesses: 4

JoHN R. WICKES, FRED H. BISHOP. 

